JCL Parameters....

PrasadV · New User Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Chennai

Hi gurus(JCL),

1. What does & in jcl refer to?

2. How to Assign a value to a parameter in jcl?

Assign or Initialize or set or something else?
pls. let me know.

bluebird · Active User Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 127

hello,

1 I don't understand the question

2 it depends on how the program receives parameters.
here is an example with pgm SDSF (IBM standard spool and system
display utility) :

sandip_datta · Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:41 pm

"&" generally refers to temporary dataset in JCL.

bluebird · Active User Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 127

thank you sandip...

now I understand question...
but & is actually for parameter either SYS (SYSUID and so on) or in a procedure ...
I suppose your jcl was a procedure and the name prefixed with & (ampersand) is an overridable name meaning it can be replaced by a value on the call of procedure.

temporary dataset are actually prefixed by &&

sandip_datta · Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 1:41 pm

Yes Bluebird...you are right...It's my mistake...

mmwife · Super Moderator Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 1592

Sandip & Bluebird,

Actually, you're both correct. An & can denote either a symbolic parameter, a system parameter or a temporary dataset. If the & appears at the beginning of the DSN param (e.g. DSN=&acbd) and there is no &abcd referenced in the proc stmt and it doesn't appear in the proc exec stmt and it isn't a system param, the reference (e.g. &abc) will be assumed to be a temp dataset.

Of course && is the preferred form for temp datasets, but you will sometimes see a single & used for a temp ds.

Regards, Jack.

sandip_datta · Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 11:30 am

Thanks Jack for sharing your valuable knowledge.

Best Regards,
Sandip.